diff --git a/lib/nvmf/ctrlr.c b/lib/nvmf/ctrlr.c
index df1fdbacf2..a888ab50fc 100644
--- a/lib/nvmf/ctrlr.c
+++ b/lib/nvmf/ctrlr.c
@@ -2458,6 +2458,8 @@ nvmf_ctrlr_identify_active_ns_list(struct spdk_nvmf_subsystem *subsystem,
 		return SPDK_NVMF_REQUEST_EXEC_STATUS_COMPLETE;
 	}
 
+	memset(ns_list, 0, sizeof(*ns_list));
+
 	for (ns = spdk_nvmf_subsystem_get_first_ns(subsystem); ns != NULL;
 	     ns = spdk_nvmf_subsystem_get_next_ns(subsystem, ns)) {
 		if (ns->opts.nsid <= cmd->nsid) {